Download Forest Health highlights 2012 MAINE

2012
Foresthighlights
Health
MAINE
Forest Resource Summary
Almost all of the forest lands in Maine are
privately owned—approximately 94 percent—
with only 1 percent in Federal ownership
that encompasses the eastern portion of the
White Mountain National Forest. The latest
Maine forest inventory estimates that there
are approximately 17.7 million acres in the
State that are forested. The forest resource
is made up of a variety of forest types,
mostly spruce and balsam fir, maples, other
hardwoods, and pine.
Maine’s forests provide much of the raw
materials to fuel the State’s mills and serve
as the backdrop for the recreation industry.
These forest-based industries employ more
than 12 percent of Maine’s workforce and
generate more than 11 percent of the State’s
payroll. The overall annual contribution of the
forest resource to Maine’s economy exceeds
$8.5 billion. The forests of the State also
Forest Land Maine
Ownership
Federal
1%
State
4%
Local
1%
Private
94%
Forest Health Programs in the Northeast
State forestry agencies work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service
to monitor forest conditions and trends in their State and respond to pest
outbreaks to protect the forest resource.
Forest Species Type
Spruce and balsam fir
Maple
Other Hardwoods
Pine
Other softwoods
Eastern Hemlock
Yellow birch
Beech
Oak
Hickory
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
million cubic feet
provide watershed, environmental, wildlife,
and recreational benefits. Forested parks and
individual shade trees provide similar amenities
in urban and suburban settings.
Aerial Surveys
In Maine there were over 12,000 acres of
damage mapped, mostly from defoliation
attributed to various insect pests including
browntail moth, Bruce spanworm, fall
cankerworm, and the introduced winter moth.
This map delineates aerial detection survey (ADS)
results for Maine in 2012 and 2011.
2
5000
6000
Forest Health Highlights
Statewide in Maine, the winter of 2011–
2012 (December to February) was the
fourth warmest on record over 117 years of
recordkeeping (http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/).
This and anomalous spring weather conditions
set Maine forest insects and diseases up for an
interesting year. Despite indications of building
populations of lepidopterous defoliators, few
significant defoliation events were mapped in
aerial survey or caught in ground survey and
client reports. Some exceptions are noted
below. In April it appeared we might be in for
a warm, dry spring and with it a promise of
relief from foliar and needle diseases, replaced
by the specter of drought stress. Moisture
levels did rebound and although foliar diseases
were not as bad as in previous years, they
were noticeable and resulted in many reports
from the public.
Disease Highlights
A regional survey for hemlock tip blight
caused by the fungus Sirococcus tsugae
was initiated in cooperation with U.S. Forest
Service personnel (figure 1). Sample stands in
Maine were selected from FIA plots known to
include eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
that are located on public lands. To date, the
survey has examined 22 plots for hemlock
tip blight presence and severity. A total of 20
hemlock trees were rated for disease incidence
and severity at each location. Damaged shoots
typical of hemlock tip blight were found at all
but one plot location (plot 213 Benton). To
date, the fungus has been confirmed using
molecular techniques from five counties—
Aroostook, Cumberland, Hancock, Penobscot,
and York. It has also been confirmed based
on spore analysis from Oxford and Piscataquis
Counties. The work will be continuing through
2013, but has so far shown the disease to be
a common pathogen on hemlock throughout
Maine. It appears to be causing significant
damage to hemlock regeneration in several
locations, primarily in southern Maine.
Figure 1.—Hemlock tip blight (Sirococcus tsugae) affecting new shoot
growth in Cape Elizabeth, ME (July 12, 2012).
Sirococcus shoot blight (Sirococcus
conigenus) is becoming one of the most
significant disease threats to commercial
forest production in Maine. After the spruce
budworm epidemic of the late 1970s and early
1980s, thousands of acres of red pine (Pinus
resinosa) plantations were established on
forest lands that had been harvested during
pre-salvage and salvage operations. Many of
these plantations occur in the Downeast region
of Washington and Hancock Counties, and in
the central Maine region of southern Franklin
and Somerset Counties. Many additional
plantations exist in eastern Aroostook County,
as well.
With a new finding of significant mortality in
a red pine plantation in Mayfield Township
(Somerset County), Maine appears to be at
the forefront of significant disease losses
in these immature plantations (figure 2).
The disease is widespread in the State, with
infection levels largely determined by weather
factors of high moisture and an ample supply
of susceptible species. Management of a more
widespread epidemic, should one develop, will
likely prove difficult and costly. Trees in many
plantations nearby and elsewhere in the State
are also infected, but with significant damage
not yet realized.
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Figure 2.—Sirococcus conigenus infection resulting in red pine
mortality in Mayfield Township, ME (September 27, 2012).
Figure 3.—Hemlock needles prematurely shed from trees litter the forest
floor during June and early July, 2012, in Batchelders Grant Township,
ME.
An unusual occurrence of needle drop on
eastern hemlock was observed and reported
throughout southern, eastern, and central
Maine during mid-June to around mid-July.
The needles, which appear green and healthy,
were shed in numbers high enough so as to
cover the ground and leaves of understory
vegetation in an almost complete layer (figure
3). Both current-year needles and older
needles were affected, with the proportion
apparently varying from site to site. The
cause of the needle loss is unknown, but
neither pathogens nor insects appear to be
involved. Physiological changes due to an
unusual combination of weather conditions
may be responsible, but no strong associations
have been made. The needle loss seemed to
abate as quickly as it was initiated, with no
significant needle loss occurring after late July.
White pine needle diseases have been of
concern on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
in recent years. There was noticeably less
early needle browning and needle loss of white
pines in Maine this season than over the past
several years. The three principal pathogens
responsible for the needle losses identified to
date (Mycosphaerella dearnessii, Canavirgella
banfieldii, and Bifusella linearis) appear to
be distributed statewide wherever the host
occurs, but M. dearnessii is most prevalent
(figure 4). The heaviest infections were
observed on white pines in the southern and
western regions of the State. Heaviest needle
losses this year were observed in the Towns
of Shapleigh and Newfield (York County) and
Standish (Cumberland County). Moderate
defoliation has been reported or observed
from New Limerick (Aroostook County),
Brunswick (Cumberland County), Wells (York
County), Lovell and Bethel (Oxford County),
Belgrade (Kennebec County), and Industry
(Franklin County).
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As part of a multistate effort to monitor
the occurrence and severity of the needle
diseases, several study plots have been
established in Maine in cooperation with
the U.S. Forest Service. In addition to the
plots in stands rated for damage, basic
weather monitoring stations have been
established in stands judged to be healthy
or diseased in each of several climate zones.
The weather data will be used to develop a
better understanding of disease epidemiology
by research cooperators at the U.S. Forest
Service and University of New Hampshire.
Insect Highlights
Although most forest defoliators did not cause
significant defoliation, public reports as well as
aerial and ground surveys turned up several
areas of red oak (Quercus rubra) defoliation
by the native bare-patched oak leafroller
(Pseudexentera spoliana) (figure 5). This is
a tiny moth that flies early in the spring and
lays its eggs on the buds of red oaks. The
larvae hatch, initially feed on the buds, then
roll the leaves from the tip down and feed
inside the leafroll. They finish up feeding in
June and drop to the ground to pupate and
stay there until the following spring. It has
only rarely been reported as a problem, but
we had samples sent in from a moth flight
in Cherryfield (Washington County) in April
where there was some significant defoliation
last year. Moderate defoliation was mapped in
Kennebec, Oxford, and southern Franklin and
Somerset Counties. The heaviest defoliation,
and the largest area, was in Washington
County. The total area defoliated across the
State was 9,399 acres.
Figure 5.—Bare-patched oak leafroller (Pseudexentera spoliana) larva
and leaf roll in Augusta, ME.
Figure 4.—White pine affected by white pine needle disease
(Mycosphaerella dearnessii) in Bethel, ME.
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Two other native, early season defoliators of
note included Bruce spanworm (Operophtera
bruceata) and fall cankerworm (Alsophila
pometaria). Light to moderate damage from
Bruce spanworm was again found in T2
R8 NWP (Penobscot County) with another
report from Alder Brook Township (Somerset
County). Feeding was on sugar and red
maples, birch, beech, and aspen. Aerial survey
resulted in 624 acres of moderate defoliation
mapped. Two hundred thirty-three acres of
defoliation by fall cankerworm were mapped
in the adjacent towns of Clinton (Kennebec
County) and Burnham (Waldo County) in red
oak-dominated forests.
Established populations of the invasive species
winter moth (Operophtera brumata) were
found in Maine for the first time in Harpswell
(Cumberland County) and Vinalhaven (Knox
County). A homeowner reported moths in the
fall of 2011 in Harpswell (figure 6). Samples
sent to UMass confirmed winter moth adults.
The news release about winter moth in
Harpswell sparked a flurry of calls and e-mails
from around the State, and the one from
Vinalhaven proved to be another infestation.
Ground surveys found winter moth within
the “downtown” area of the island, and the
infestation is about 100 acres in size.
Outreach events in both communities were
very successful, and residents are working to
limit the spread of winter moth to other areas.
They are banding yard trees to help protect
them from the winter moth (figure 7). They
also offered property for long-term study
plots, put up posters alerting people to winter
moth’s presence in their towns, and stopped
having landscape plant sales. Both towns
have information on their Web sites and direct
questions to the Maine Forest Service (MFS).
Figure 7.—Banding trees in Harpswell to monitor the winter moth
population.
Figure 6.—Winter moth (Operophtera brumata) damage in Harpswell,
ME.
Ground surveys in May 2012 found light to
moderate feeding on a wide array of hardwood
trees and shrubs with oaks, apple, and maple
most heavily affected. Aerial survey mapped
606 acres of damage in Harpswell.
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The Maine Forest Service and UMass are
working on laying the groundwork to release
the parasitic fly Cyzenis albicans in hopes
of controlling the winter moth. The MFS and
the University of Maine have applied for
a U.S. Forest Service grant to study host
susceptibility and winter moth range. The MFS
and the U.S. Forest Service are establishing
long-term study plots to monitor the spread
and impact of winter moth in Maine.
Browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)
winter web counts were extremely high in
Freeport (Cumberland County) going into the
winter. The high browntail moth population,
reduced feeding, and cold wet spring
weather probably contributed to the ensuing
Entomophaga aulicae outbreak that decimated
the browntail moth population. Turner,
Vassalboro, and Augusta (Kennebec County)
and Falmouth and Cumberland (Cumberland
County) have small browntail populations.
Despite the population drop, the larvae still
defoliated 1,141 acres in Cumberland and
Androscoggin Counties (figure 8).
Defoliation was not mapped, and to date egg
mass surveys do not indicate an increasing
population. In addition, the saddled
prominent/green striped mapleworm/
variable oakleaf caterpillar complex
(Heterocampa guttivitta, Dryocampa
rubicunda, Lochmaeus manteo, and others)
received notable attention from the public and
forest managers in a wide, central belt across
the State. However, no overstory defoliation
that could be mapped was seen.
In 2012, the MFS coordinated a large-scale
emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
survey with purple panel traps. Approximately
960 traps were hung in ash trees (Fraxinus
sp.) throughout the State (figure 9). Within
the MFS, the Insect and Disease Lab partnered
with the U.S. Forest Service Forest Protection
and Forest Inventory and Analysis units.
Additional partners were USDA Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),
Maine Department of Agriculture, and the
Penobscot Indian Nation. This was treated as
a critical incident exercise and was a useful
exercise in cooperating with several agencies.
All traps were negative for emerald ash borer.
Figure 8.—Late instar browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) larva
on apple in Maine.
Field trials for the naturally-occurring browntail
moth nucleopolyhedrovirus, EcNPV performed
in 2011 in Bowdoinham (Sagadahoc County)
and in September in Freeport were checked
for long-term control of the browntail moth.
There were no larvae in Bowdoinham. Larvae
from Freeport showed signs of the virus but
were overtaken by E. aulicae. We will continue
monitoring these sites.
Although there were abundant reports
of caterpillars of late-season defoliating
species, defoliation that could be mapped
never surfaced. We received more reports
of the non-native gypsy moth (Lymantria
dispar) this year than in previous years.
Figure 9.—MFS Rangers working on the purple trap survey.
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A network of volunteers from the Small
Woodlot Owners Association of Maine, native
tribes, and a State Park girdled ash trees
on their property to serve as trap trees for
emerald ash borer. Fourteen trees throughout
the State were girdled in the spring of
2011. The trees were felled, and the boles
peeled and examined for emerald ash borer
galleries at two workshops hosted by the
MFS in February 2012. Forty volunteers,
including landowners, tribal members, and
basketmakers, as well as individuals from the
University of Maine and the Maine Department
of Conservation, attended the workshops to
learn about emerald ash borer and help peel
ash bolts (figure 10). No sign of emerald ash
borer was detected. In the spring of 2012, 10
additional volunteers girdled ash trees, which
will be felled and peeled in early 2013.
Biosurveillance was carried out at 12 locations
throughout Maine, including some new sites
and sites that had not been monitored for
2 to 3 years. No emerald ash borers were
collected.
Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae)
benefited from the abnormally warm winter
temperatures. Overwintering mortality of
the adelgid averaged 17 percent across five
forested sites in coastal Maine. At nearly all
locations where this insect is established,
there is enough new hemlock growth to
support burgeoning adelgid populations. In
2012 forest infestations of hemlock woolly
adelgid were detected in six additional towns,
which brought the number of towns known
to have forest infestations in Maine to 36.
These towns stretch out along the southern
third of the Maine coast, an area that is
rich in hemlock and connected to an inland
concentration of hemlock-dominated forest. In
2012, support from the USDA APHIS allowed
the release of 10,000 Sasajiscymnus tsugae
predatory beetles in two State Parks. Hemlock
woolly adelgid threatens the aesthetics and
ecology at both State parks (figure 11).
Figure 10.—Volunteers learn about EAB and help peel bark from trap
trees (February 2012).
Figure 11.—Declining hemlocks affected by hemlock woolly adelgid at
Wolfe Neck Woods State Park in Freeport, ME (March 2012).
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We continued to have new detections of
elongate hemlock scale (Fiorinia externa)
on ornamental trees this year, perhaps
due to increased public and green industry
professionals’ awareness of the pest. There
were no new detections of this pest in the
forest. The geographic area with known
infestations greatly expanded, with detections
this year in the area between Portland
(Cumberland County) and Mount Desert
(Hancock County). Detections on planted trees
now stretch across half of the coast of Maine
and are in areas with high concentrations of
balsam fir (Abies balsamea), a native host
of this pest. It appears that spread of this
unregulated pest into our forests will be
greatly accelerated by importation of infested
planting stock.
Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana)
catches in pheromone traps are generally
the same as last year with some sites up and
some down. There are still no reports of larval
feeding in Maine. Highest trap catches are
all in Aroostook County in the northwestern
rooftop of the State plus a hot spot just north
of Penobscot County. The five sites with no
budworm are new locations—four in central
Maine and one in the northeast. The overall
average catch from 72 sites across the
northern half of the State was 5.7 moths. The
highest moth count was 40.0 moths (average
of three traps) in T17 R12 WELS (Aroostook
County).
The Quebec spruce budworm outbreak
continues to expand with defoliation now
south of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Larvae
were reported from nearby Madawaska
County, New Brunswick, but there was no
defoliation; this area is adjacent to the higher
trap counts in Maine. The MFS will continue to
monitor this serious pest.
References
Land Cover Map:
U.S. Geological Survey. 2011. 2006 National land cover dataset. Sioux Falls, SD.
Forest Land Ownership, Forest Species Type:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 2009. Forest resources of the United States,
2007. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO–78. Washington, DC. 336 p.
Forest Health Protection
U.S. Forest Service
Northeastern Area
State and Private Forestry
271 Mast Rd.
Durham, NH 03824
603–868–7708
http://www.na.fs.fed.us
Maine Department of Agriculture
Conservation and Forestry
Maine Forest Service
22 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0022
207–287–4981
www.maineforestservice.gov
March 2013
The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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